Sean Durzi #50 of the Utah Hockey Club in action against the San Jose Sharks during their preseason game at SAP Center on October 01, 2024 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Hockey is a very physical sport but that isn’t news to Utah Hockey Club defenseman Sean Durzi who is sporting a brand-new shiner on his left eye. After an altercation between Clayton Keller and Chicago defenseman Connor Murphy during the home opener, Durzi immediately dropped his gloves and confronted Murphy.
After Clayton Keller took a hit without the puck late in the second period on Tuesday, the Utah Hockey Club quickly came to protect their captain and Durzi wasted no time getting involved with the perpetrator.
Full Story: Sean Durzi Defends Keller In First Utah Hockey Club Fight
You absolutely do not lay a dirty hit on the captain without being punished.
Sean Durzi sticking up for his teammate as he should. https://t.co/QS66rjUsbD
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 9, 2024
According to Durzi, Murphy had been causing some issues before the dirty hit on Keller as he appeared to be frustrated with his team’s situation. Once he went after Keller, Durzi had no choice but to get involved and protect Utah’s best player.
“I think a big part of our team is unity, brotherhood, sticking up for each other when we can. Sticking by each other when we can and I just thought that was a good moment, little bit of emotion went into it,” Durzi told KSL Sports.
Despite not considering himself an enforcer, Durzi was not afraid to drop the gloves with Murphy who stands four inches taller than him. When the game is on the line and one of your teammates is in need, it doesn’t matter what the other guy looks like.
You stand up for your brothers, especially your captain.
Sean Durzi on sticking up for Keller during the home opener: “A big part of our team is unity, brotherhood, sticking up for each other…when something like that happens I don’t think I’ll shy away from anything like that…”
Ended up with a nice shiner too.#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/qLnkVaXDsV
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 10, 2024
“What I bring to the game is a lot of competitiveness, emotion, passion and when you’re deep into a game, you care about your teammates,” Durzi told KSL Sports. “When you want to win and the emotion of the game, something like that happens, I don’t think I’ll shy away from anything like that. Just the situation, I thought called for it.”
While Durzi was penalized for his actions, that’s exactly what you’d expect from one of the team’s top defensemen.
As previously mentioned, hockey is a physical sport. Fighting is still a part of the game and when someone goes after a top player who wears the “C” on their sweater, they can expect to drop the gloves for their actions.
The Utah Hockey Club will now head to New York to take on the New York Islanders on Thursday night. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.